PARA akong nakalutang sa ulap pagkapasok ko sa detention room. I saw my parents seated on the monoblock chairs that were placed in the corner of the room. Agad na tumayo si Mama at naglakad palapit sa akin, her eyes filled with worry as she held me by my shoulders while asking about the verdict.
Lumipad ang tingin ko kay Lauren na kasalukuyang natutulog sa itim na sofa sa loob ng detention room. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa mga kamay niyang nakaposas pa rin.
We can finally get rid of that.
"Jasper?" tawag pansin ni Mama nang hindi ako sumagot. Huminga ako ng malalim bago siya pinagtuonan ng pansin. A smile broke into my lips as I deliver the good news to her.
My father immediately came forward to hug her when she started crying in relief. He then gestured to me na lalabas na muna sila. They left there me standing while staring at Lauren. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papalapit sa kanya at bahagyang yumuko para matitigan ang mukha niya.
Sobrang laki ng ipinayat niya, her eyes were puffy from all those crying earlier, kitang-kita rin ang eyebags niya, obviously, she wasn't able to have a good night sleep for a long time. Dahan-dahan kong hinaplos ang pisngi niya and my heart started to break again as a teardrop fell from her closed eyes.
"Ayaw kong dumilat. Baka nananaginip pa ako at bigla nalang nasa kulungan ako ulit," ani niya kahit nakapikit.
"You heard?" tanong ko na sinagot niya ng pagtango.
A smile appeared on my lips as I helped her to a sitting position before I sat beside her, letting her lean on me as I circled my arms around her body.
"This is not a dream. It's over. It's finally over," bulong ko kasabay ng magaang paghalik sa bunbunan niya at marahang haplos sa braso niya.
"Uwi na tayo?" tanong ko sa kanya pagkatapos ng ilang minutong katahimikan.
"Uwi?" tumango ako sa tanong niya.
"May uuwian pa ba ako?" Humigpit ang kapit ko sa may braso niya bago siya pinihit paharap sa akin.
I watched her slowly open her eyes and once again, I fell in love with those pair of deep orbs. Years ago, I fell in love with how bright and innocent those eyes were, now I fell in love all over again with those sad and lost eyes staring at back me.
Because they were all the same.
It was still her. Happy or sad. Bright or gloomy. Siya parin iyon.
Si Lauren parin iyon.
"Kami. Ako. We would always be your home, Lauren." Her eyes started to be filled with tears before she moved towards me and buried her face on the crook of my neck. I embraced her trembling body as she started crying.
"Let this be the last time. Let this be the last time you cry about this please," pakiusap ko sa kanya. Hindi man siya sumagot ay naramdaman ko ang mas pagdiin ng katawan niya sa akin.
"Mag-uumpisa ulit tayo. We'll leave everything behind. We'll be okay. Hmm?" pangako ko sa kanya. Hinigpitan ko ang yakap ko sa kanya nang maramdaman ko ang pagtango niya.
"Lauren!" EJ ran over to hug her pero agad ring kumawala nang mag-umpisang manginig si Lauren.
Nagmamadali akong naglakad papalapit sa kanila at hinawakan siya sa palapulsuhan.
"What's wrong?" nag-aalala kong tanong nang mag-umpisa na siyang kapusin ng hangin. Patuloy lang siya sa pag-iling at ramdam ko rin ang panlalamig ng balat niya.
"Kuya JD did you—" Sabay kaming napalingon ni EJ sa pintuan ng opisina ko nang marinig namin ang pagbukas niyon. Febe's words halted as soon as her eyes landed on Lauren who was still panting while holding onto me tightly. Nagmamadali siyang naglakad palapit sa amin at mabilis na inalalayan si Lauren paupo sa couch ng opisina ko.
"Get me a brown paper bag! Hurry!" utos niya, nagmamadaling lumabas si EJ para sundin ang utos niya habang ako naman hindi alam ang gagawin habang pinapanood siyang itali ang buhok ni Lauren.
"It's okay . . . control your breathing . . . One . . . Two . . . Three . . . Inhale . . . One . . . Two . . . Three . . . Exhale . . . You're doing great," kausap niya kay Lauren. Agad rin namang bumalik si EJ na may dalang supot at kasunod niya ay ang resident nurse ng firm.
"Doc Febe," bati nito na tinanguan lang ni Febe bago binuklat ang supot at inalalayan si Lauren na huminga mula doon.
"What happened to her?" nag-aalala kong tanong. Nang medyo gumaan ang paghinga ni Lauren ay inalalayan siya ni Febe pahiga sa couch bago umikot paharap sa akin.
"I should be asking you that question too, Kuya. Is she seeing a psychiatrist? Kasi kung hindi pa I can recommend you to someone." Bumagsak ang tingin ko kay Lauren na lupaypay na nakahiga sa couch habang hawak-hawak ang supot.
"She was scheduled to meet Dr. Limjuco today," sagot ko.
We're actually about to go to the clinic but Louie, my secretary, called to say na he urgently needed my signature so we dropped by the office, na-timingan lang na nandito rin si EJ kaya nagkita sila.
"I've heard about her case from Achi," umpisa ni Febe.
"I think she's been triggered by your touch, Kuya EJ." EJ suddenly took a step back and guilt was written all over his face.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know that—"
"It's okay. She probably don't even know about it too since she's comfortable naman with Kuya JD," putol ni Febe sa kanya bago ako muling binalingan.
"What's your plan? She needs immediate help, Kuya." Parang biglang sumakit ang ulo ko dahil sa sinabi ni Febe. Looks like nagkatotoo nga ang kinakatakutan ni Mama.
"We'll go to Dr. Limjuco after she feel better," sagot ko pero umiling si Febe sa akin.
"Lalaki rin si Dr. Limjuco. It would be better if she could have a female doctor. Let me call someone," ani niya bago lumabas ng opisina ko kasunod ang nurse na bitbit pa rin ang first aid kit.
"I'm sorry. Hindi ko alam," hinging paumanhin ni EJ nang maiwan na lang kaming tatlo sa loob.
"It's not your fault and I'm sure she knows it too," sagot ko sa kanya bago inipit sa likuran ng tainga ni Lauren ang mga nagkalat niyang buhok sa mukha. Her breathing is slowly turning back to normal, she had her eyes close and she looks so pale while lying on the couch.
"I already set an appointment with Dr. Festin. Na-explain ko na rin ang situation niya but she still need to talk to her," balita ni Febe pagkabalik niya sa loob ng opisina. Tumango ako sa kanya at nagpasalamat.
EJ and Febe left my office after that. Febe reminded me to let Lauren rest for a while bago kami tumulak papunta sa clinic.
I sat down next to the couch where she was napping, I held her hand tightly while waiting for her to wake up.
"I know you're going through hell right now. I know it would be hard for you to go back to the way you were before. But I'm here. I'll stay here with you to get through all of these. Kaya natin 'to, Lauren," bulong ko kasabay ng magaang halik sa likuran ng palad niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Afflicted (TLS #3 - COMPLETED)
Ficción General3rd Installation of The Lawyer Series Once a national treasure in the film industry, Lauren Ignacio lost everything when she was framed for a crime she didn't commit. Abandoned, hated, and left with no one to defend her-except Attorney JD Lopez. Bu...
